Bringing items in to testing center

[SB100]

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So I'm set for taking the MCAT on Jan. 26 and as I have been reviewing the MCAT essentials it says you can only bring ID into the testing room with you. I understand no bags, books, etc. can be brought in, but does this mean even bringing a wallet and car/apartment keys into the room is not allowed? What do you guys who have taken the exam before do?

 

[pingouin]

Correct- you will only be able to bring in your ID and the scrap paper and pencils provided by the testing center. Everything else goes into lockers in the waiting area- wallets, keys, phones, snacks, drinks, purses, etc. The lockers aren't all that big, so I wouldn't bring much.

As a side note, you are not allowed to use your phone after the test has started until after it's ended. Some people ran into problems with that last year (caught by test center checking VM or texts). I left my phone in the car to avoid any temptation. 🙂

 

[SB100]

Are the lockers all that secure? I guess I won't bring my credit card then, but how safe will my keys be?

 

[pingouin]

You'll lock the locker when you go in for the test and keep the key with you. The only way it's not secure is if you don't re-lock it at the end of each break.

 

[xylitol]

how did those people who checked their text messages in the bathroom get caught?? i mean there aren't security cameras in the bathroom right?

 

[kin kid]

is water allowed???

 

[LauraDO]

is water allowed???

yes that's my question too, can you bring water bottles into the testing room

Also how far in advance to you all recommend arriving, say for a 8am test date should you arrive at 7:30am

 

[tourniquet1963]

no no water.. they dont want you spilling anything on the computer keys.. you leave everything in the locker. except the ID of course.

 

[runner898]

My testing center was incredibly strict. I mean, if a girl had her hair in a pony tail, it had to stay in a pony tail the entire time. If she wanted it pulled back, she had to pull it back before entering the room. We were told that excessive face scratching/glasses adjusting would be considered suspicious.
We were also told that if we wore a sweatshirt in, it had to stay on the whole time. Watches had to be removed, no matter what. In other words, the way you enter is the way you stay...PERIOD. I thought it was great security though. I didn't mind.

I am not sure how the lockers are everywhere, but the lockers at my testing center were in the same room as the proctor, so everything was secure. She watched what we took in and out of lockers, so she could see if a cell phone was removed, I would guess. There were cameras everywhere, including by the lockers.

 

[pingouin]

tourniquet and runner are correct in all of their statements. The ONLY things you are allowed to bring in are yourself, your ID, and the key to your locker. They will provide you with paper and pencils, which you have to give back after the test is completed. Please see AAMC's MCAT Essentials- which you all should have read by now anyway if you've registered for the exam. Pages 12 and 13 address this discussion.

http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/mcatessentials.pdf

The proctors are very vigilant about what's going on. Doing something they consider to be a violation could put you in a position of having your test voided, the AAMC cancelling your scores, and never allowing you to retake it. So before anyone pulls their cell phone out of their locker to text or call someone, please ask yourself "Is it really worth giving up my entire career plan for this one phone call?"

Hence my suggestion: Leave it in the car or at home. I recognize that an acute bout of separation anxiety may occur as a result, but you will live. As someone who took the ACT and SAT when cell phones still came in a bag and weighed 5 pounds, I can assure you it is possible to make it through a standardized test without them.

 

[pingouin]

oh and Laura- I'd recommend between 7:15 and 7:30. You should be fine with that.